Carriers are a the bottom of this compliance food chain!
Shippers are most likely to demand that carriers provide proof of compliance to temperature and sanitation requirements because receivers are putting pressure on them for compliance. Under FDA FSMA rules and ordinary business practices, carriers will be burdened to prove compliance and adequate record keeping. Proof of compliance comes in the form of certification and in order to become certified, carriers they have been trained in the following:
1. Proof of completion of mandatory training in 3 areas (training certificates):
a. Requirements of the carrier
b. Food safety problems that may occur during transportation
c. Solutions to those problems.
All perishable food carrier operations personnel must be able to provide documentation that proves they are competently trained.
2. Carriers must be able to provide documentation that proves they have
a. Sanitation and temperature control procedures
b. Implementation of the procedures (clean all truck trailers and load and unload equipment, etc.)
c. Records that prove they are moving food within the specific temperature and sanitary requirements
established to prevent bacterial, chemical and physical hazards that might cause human illness or
death for food during in-transit operations.
d. Records that prove they are storing and handling perishable foods with tools and equipment that meet
sanitation and temperature control conditions between transportation operation.
3. Food safety in-transit and in-storage handling certification by a third party audit group.
